Queen to attend Prince Phillip memorial service at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham palace says

Prince Andrew will attend service for Duke of Edinburgh in first public appearance since civil assault case settlement

Queen Elizabeth is to attend Prince Phillips memorial later today

Buckingham palace have said The Queen intends on attending a service of thanksgiving for the Duke of Edinburgh later on today. The event will be a celebration of his public service and will reflect on his ‘long life fully lived.’

Other senior members of the Royal family will be at the memorial at Westminster Abbey for Prince Philip, who died last April at the age of 99 Including Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, who will be making his first public appearance since the settlement of his civil assault case in the US.

The Queen and Prince Andrew on their way to the memorial credit: Peter Macdiarmid/LNP

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be attending

However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will not be attending the memorial in his honour. 

Representatives of some of his 700 charitable organisations, such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, will also be in the congregation. Other organisations such as the Voluntary Services Overseas, Caravan and Motorhome club and the Outward-Bound Trust have also confirmed their attendance. 

Despite having to forego other appearances as she recovers from a back problem, The Queen has remained determined to attend the memorial.

Special measures have been put into place for her comfort, including keeping the length of the service to 45 minutes and her entry route to the service being the through the back to shorten the journey. 

The thanksgiving service will hear the Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, offer prayers for a “man of rare ability and distinction” who “put privilege to work and understood his rank as a spur to service.”

The service will also be inclusive of elements that were not able to take place at his funeral last year due to covid restrictions, this will include the lining of the entry to Westminster Abbey by Duke of Edinburgh gold award winners.